142 GLIMPSES INTO PLANT-LIFE 



will bear being removed from one tree and inserted 

 in the stem of another, within which it will grow 

 and become a part of the living tree. This is one 

 of the means by which we have obtained such an 

 infinite variety of roses ; the buds from choice 

 species being readil}' made to grow upon strong 

 briar stocks, and thus one may also see roses of 

 several different colours blossoming on the same 

 stem. Choice varieties of fruit-trees are cultivated 

 in the same way by means of buds inserted in the 

 bark. 



Having observed how flowers are arranged in 

 the bud, we may go on to dissect incipient leaves 

 and learn how they are placed. ^ We shall find 

 that the frond of the hart's-tongue fern is rolled up 

 from the tip, the arum gracefully curved length- 

 wise. Pear leaves are rolled from side to side 

 towards the middle, and so is the primrose, but the 

 reverse way. Beautiful examples of curled leaves 

 may also be seen in the water-Hl)' and banana. 



In grasses the first leaves are equivalent to bud- ' 

 scales, and protect those which continue to grow 

 from the centre, each one sheathing out of the 



' \'enation. 



